The Book of Trinity College Dublin 1591-1891Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)
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The Book of Trinity College Dublin 1591-1891
Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)
Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)
It is, chronologically, a great step from these Egyptian MSS. to
the oldest of our Greek and Latin MSS. Of Greek Biblical MSS. we
have indeed few, but two of these are of considerable importance.
One is the celebrated palimpsest codex of St. Matthew’s Gospel,
known amongst Biblical critics as Z. The original text of this,
in a beautiful large uncial character, was written not later than
the sixth century. But at a later date (about the 13th century)
this ancient writing was partially erased, and extracts from
some of the Greek Fathers written over it. The old writing was
detected by Dr. John Barrett, formerly Librarian, who published
the text in what was called “engraved fac-simile,” which gives
a very correct idea of the original writing, although the form
of each individual letter may not always be exactly represented.
Dr. Barrett added a learned dissertation on both the more ancient
and the later contents of the MS. Dr. Tregelles, with the help of
chemical applications, was enabled to read some letters which had
escaped Dr. Barrett, and he published an account of his discoveries
in a quarto tract. He also entered his new readings in a copy of
Barrett’s work. Strange to say, these two records of Tregelles
differed considerably, and accordingly, when the present writer
undertook to re-edit Barrett’s text with Tregelles’ additions, he
found it necessary to examine the MS. throughout. In so doing,
he was able to read several hundred letters and marks (such as
marks of quotation, numbers of sections and canons, etc.) which
had escaped both Barrett and Tregelles, besides correcting a few
errors. The additions and corrections were made on Barrett’s
plates, and the new edition was published in 1880.[118]
There is also a palimpsest fragment of Isaiah, apparently of
somewhat earlier date, of which a lithographed fac-simile was
included in the volume just mentioned. This fac-simile enabled Dr.
Ceriani, of Milan, to identify the recension to which a certain
group of MSS. of the Septuagint belongs.[119]
Of the Gospels, there is a copy (63) in a cursive hand of the
tenth century with scholia. Under a portrait of St. Matthew is
traceable a palimpsest fragment of a Greek Evangelistarium. There
was anciently another copy of the Gospels (64), which, however,
was reported missing in 1742. Most probably it had been lent to
Bulkeley (a Fellow), who in fact collated it for Mill. It is now in
the library of the Marquis of Bute.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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